Liverpool, Apr 07: Wayne Rooney and David Unsworth fired Everton to a pulsating 2-1 victory over Newcastle United, dealing a hammer blow to the Tynesiders' title hopes. Rooney, who helped England to a vital Euro 2004 qualifying win over Turkey on Wednesday, rounded of an unforgettable week for the 17-year-old by heading Everton ahead after 18 minutes at Goodison Park on Sunday (April 6). Everton came close to extending their lead two minutes later when Kevin Campbell turned and volleyed a cross from Joseph Yobo but Shay Given saved well. French winger Laurent Robert rifled in a stunning equaliser for Newcastle just before the break, blasting an unstoppable shot from the corner of the penalty area into the top corner of the Everton goal. Rooney and Stubbs came close to scoring a second goal for Everton after the break but when they did take the lead for the second time it was in controversial circumstances.


In the 65th minute Thomas Gravesen's high challenge on Olivier Bernard left the Newcastle player in a heap on the ground as Everton poured forward and won a penalty, Jonathon Woodgate bundling Kevin Campbell to the ground in the area, David Unsworth converting the resulting penalty.


Defeat left third-placed Newcastle stuck on 61 points -- six behind both Manchester United and Arsenal with six games left.


Newcastle nearly snatched a stoppage time equaliser when defender Titus Bramble sent in a powerful close-range header, only for Everton keeper Richard Wright to pull off a stunning reflex save.


Everton moved up to fifth on 53 points, one ahead of Liverpool and four behind Chelsea in the race to the fourth-place finish which means a place in the Champions League qualifiers.


Premier league P W D L F A Pts 1. Arsenal 32 20 7 5 67 34 67 2. Manchester United 32 20 7 5 55 27 67 3. Newcastle United 32 19 4 9 55 37 61 4. Chelsea 32 16 9 7 59 32 57 5. Everton 32 15 8 9 41 37 53 6. Liverpool 32 14 10 8 47 35 52 7. Blackburn Rovers 31 12 10 9 38 37 46 8. Tottenham Hotspur 32 13 7 12 45 45 46 9. Charlton Athletic 32 13 7 12 41 45 46 10. Middlesbrough 32 12 9 11 42 35 45 11. Southampton 32 11 12 9 35 33 45 12. Manchester City 32 12 5 15 40 51 41 13. Fulham 31 10 8 13 35 40 38 14. Leeds United 32 11 4 17 44 46 37 15. Aston Villa 32 10 7 15 34 38 37 16. Bolton Wanderers 32 8 11 13 36 47 35 17. Birmingham City 32 9 8 15 29 44 35 18. West Ham United 32 7 10 15 35 54 31 19. West Bromwich Albion 32 5 6 21 21 50 21 20. Sunderland 32 4 7 21 20 52 19


Bureau Report